Conversations with the River, the Birds, the Trees, the People

BIRD KINDNESS…

Yes, you are so right about that City Council meeting: was truly suspenseful and intense. It had me clinging to the edge of my wildlife concern seat.

As you know, I had been so busy in the last few months advocating fiercely and at times fiery for the San Lorenzo River birds at the Pilot Program Advisory Group(AG) meetings that my hair hurt. Since I had witnessed their panicked response to last year’s Paddle Program Events I actually had no other choice but try to stand up for their behalf. This necessitated extra little visits to the San Lorenzo River to air out my churning brain.

So I happened to watch the RED-THROATED LOON resting on the trestle sandbank. The RED-THROATED LOON is the smallest species of the LOON family, is a migrating diver bird, who rarely comes ashore due awkward land mobility caused by its far back legs position on the body. Seeing it out of the water I wondered if it was okay or should go to the Native Animal Rescue(NAR) as other harmed San Lorenzo River birds. They breed up north in the tundra. The parents bond for longer time periods and subscribe to the shared work ethic when it comes to brood rearing for which they dress up very dazzlingly. On my return home I was relieved to spot it back in the water, preening & diving very contently.

RED-THROATED LOON

Remembering last year’s Paddle Pilot Events impact on the birds I decided to take my grandson Rowan in tow and see what the “Bird Paradise Hospital” is all about. And here is the verdict: there is no better way to experience what deep animal devotion feels/looks like than standing in the bird nursery room, witnessing attentive caring from kind hearted Eve Egan, her twin daughters Lupin

golden touch Lupin & kind Eve

and Zoe with the golden touch for animals, the cheery volunteers( there are 50 of them), who tend to needy birds and mammals around the clock. For some reason the hand crochet, paper towel lined baby bird nest moved me close to tears.

hand-crochet nest

You could say that Native Animal Rescue( since1979) survived due to the cat bird victim of Eve’s mother ( Molly Richardson), who took the bird with her grand-daughters in tow to the door steps of SPCA’s in 1992, where bird foster volunteering was in high demand. From that moment on Molly fostered birds at her home, where she restarted NAR after SPCA closed their doors to birds in 1993.

Since NAR supports itself w/donations,grants plus small( & I mean small!!) amounts from County cities, you can show your support at New Leaf & Staff of Life by putting put token in the NAR bag program box.

While Eve & I talked, Rowan’s curiosity pulled him from one cage to the next, inspecting the approx. 200 birds, baby raccoons, baby opossums and was smitten by the beautiful BARN OWLS plus the majestic HAWK juveniles.

juv. RED-TAILED HAWK

Eve mentioned the GREEN HERON fledglings, who had been moved to a specialized water bird rescue center. Of course I was glad that the GREEN HERONS were in good care, yet I mourned that the San Lorenzo River lost their presence, since they will be released in the Bay area. I so hope that people will cherish their sight.

Also I found out that NAR had a higher amount than usual of Seabirds and water bird patients during migratory season, which made me wonder if that number will increase due to another Paddler Pilot Program next year.

We said our good-bye, our thank you, left with home grown zucchini, a heart full of admiration and love for all these people, who work to heal our wounded, needy native animals.

So that is the latest news from my stretch of the river…What is your news?

River greetings from jane

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2 thoughts on “BIRD KINDNESS…”

Oh, Jane! What a wonderful post. It has everything. Your heartfelt kindness and tenderness for the birds. Your inclusion of your grandson and his great curiosity. Your humor. The suspense about the loon and relief that it seemed OK. And your praising and real appreciation for Eve and her children and history of NAR and Molly. It was like a great, great story of family – your family, Eve’s family, the family that extends to birds, another species. I was really surprised to learn about all the birds they have. And the little touch of the crocheted nests suggests a lot of nameless old women out there who also care and are part of the family. And it kept up the friendly letter spirit by talking to me at the beginning and the end. I really loved this post. Well, I love all of your posts. You are a wonder.

Did you find out why the baby green herons end up in S.F. Maybe safer for them?

What a fabulous comment, Barbara! It makes the writer in me dance & yodel happily through the word jungle.Thank you so very much.
In regard to the GREEN HERON: they are taken to a facility that caters specifically to water birds. NAR can’t really accommodate their needs. The GREEN HERONS then get released in the bay area to spare them further shipping stress.
So the San Lorenzo River looses out on its feathered citizen & the Bay area gains a new one.
GREEN HERON greeting from me